Introduction: A New Front in the West Philippine Sea Conflict The Philippine Navy is investigating unidentified underwater structures near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a flashpoint in the West Philippine…
The Red Line: Philippines’ Contingency Plan if China Moves to Tow the BRP Sierra Madre A lone, rusting ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, sits grounded on Ayungin Shoal—a symbol of…
Energy Showdown: How China’s CNOOC is Moving to Control Oil in Philippine Waters An energy security crisis is brewing for the Philippines. As the vital Malampaya gas field nears depletion,…
“China isn’t waiting for 2049 to change the balance of power — it’s doing it now, in the gray zones between peace and war.” — Hal Brands, Johns Hopkins SAIS…
The West Philippine Sea has become the stage for a dramatic confrontation that encapsulates the global struggle between might and right. The latest incident at Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal)…
The South China Sea is once again the center of global attention as two major military exercises commence in parallel. The timing of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) joint drill…
Introduction: The Defense of Sovereignty and Law The Philippines has drawn a clear line in the turbulent waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), asserting what it calls its “incontrovertible”…
Introduction: The Two Tracks of Indo-Pacific Security The recent simultaneous launch of the PLA-Malaysia joint drill and the Japan-Philippines military exercise 2025 is more than a mere scheduling conflict—it’s a…
Ayungin Shoal: The Moral Frontline of Philippine Sovereignty The waters around Ayungin Shoal — known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal — have become the defining flashpoint in the Philippines’ fight…
Introduction: The West Philippine Sea as a National Lifeline The West Philippine Sea (WPS) — the portion of the South China Sea lying within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)…